Fr Gregory was raised in Utah, where he developed a deep love of nature.

He was brought up as a Protestant, though his father was baptized at Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago. After receiving a BA from Wheaton College, he worked for wilderness programs and with adjudicated youth.

 

He met his wife Stephanie in Chicago, while involved with conservative Anglicanism. Upon wedding, they moved to Utah, where Fr Gregory worked in education administration, and taught philosophy and theology at a community college and a regional seminary.

 

The Matlaks then moved to Boston, where by God’s mercy they were received into the Orthodox Church. There Fr Gregory completed a PhD in Theology and Education at Boston College. Upon graduating, he received a call to prepare for the holy priesthood, which he did at St Tikhon’s Seminary.

 

He was ordained to the Holy Diaconate in 2019 and the Holy Priesthood in 2020. The Matlaks have two beautiful daughters.